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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "princebolkiah" <prince_bolkiah1@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2006 17:43:41 +0000
Subject: urgent responds needed


Dear VICTIMNAME ,
I got your reliable contact from my father's diary and further explicit
investment information about your country from my attorney in London,
who
has been of great assistance to my family since our departure from
Brunei
due to the human right abuses in my country. I
am Prince Fayad Bolkiah, the eldest son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah, former
Finance Minister of Brunei, the tiny oil-rich sultanate on the Gulf
Island.

I will save your time by not amplifying my extended royal family
history,
which has already been
disseminated by the International Media during the controversial
dispute
that erupted between my Father and his step-brother, the Sultan of
Brunei
Sheik Muda Hassanal Bolkiah. As you may know from the international
media,
the Sultan had accused my father
of financial mismanagement and impropriety of US$14.8 Billion dollars.
This
was as a result of the Asian Financial crisis that made my father's
company
Amedeo Development Company and government owned Brunei Investment
Company to
be declared bankrupt during his tenure in office. However my father was
kept
under house arrest, his bank accounts and private Properties including
a
crudeoil export refinery were later confiscated by the sultanate.
Furthermore during this unfortunate period, I was advised to evacuate
my
immediate family outside
the sultanate to avoid further prosecution from the sultan and his
security
operatives, but before I could do that I was placed under house arrest
by
the Sultan and have no access to a phone but I have a Palm hand-held
computer from which I am sending you this mail.

Some of the guard here are still loyal to me, so they would be my
contact
with you if there is any document I need to send to you to enable you
collect the boxes of money on my behalf. In addition, before my
incarceration, I went ahead to dispatch the sum of Five Hundred Million
United States Dollars US$500,000, 000.00) in cash under special
arrangement
into the custody of different private security and Trustee Companies
for
safe keeping abroad. The money were
splited and kept in the following countries in this proportion: US$ 50
Million is in Switzerland,US$100 Million is in Spain, US$100 Million is
in
Britain,US$80 Million is in United Arab Emirate and
the balance US$US170 Million is in Canada.
Hence I seek your good assistance to invest these funds into profitable
investment in your country to facilitate future survival for my family
abroad. Afterdue deliberation with my aids we have decided to offer 4%
of
these funds to you as compensation for your strong cooperation while
certain
percentage have been mapped out for both local and international
expenses
that may be incurred during this transaction. Please I count on your
absolute confidentiality, transparency and trust, while looking forward
to
your prompt reply towards a swift conclusion of this transaction.Kindly
respond to me on my alternative email:prince_bolkiah1@yahoo.com
May Allah's blessing remain with you.

Prince Fayad. Bolkiah.
Email:princes_bolkiah1@yahoo.com


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